A loyalist and police Special Branch informer yesterday pleaded guilty to the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, one of the most controversial killings of the Troubles.
Ken Barrett (41) also faced charges of attempted murder of Mr Finucane's wife, Geraldine, and of two others in 1991.
Barrett, a former Special Branch informer, pleaded guilty to the full list of charges put to him, which also included possession of weapons and membership of a proscribed organisation. He had originally pleaded not guilty when arrested in May 2002.
Proceedings were observed by key members of the police investigation led by Cmdr David Cox. Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police commissioner and head of the investigation, was not in court and no members of the Finucane family attended.
Following the guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel Mr Gordon Kerr outlined the case.
He told the court Mr Finucane was at home with his wife and three children at 7.30 p.m. on February 12th, 1989 when two gunmen burst in.
He said they found Mr Finucane in a rear kitchen and claimed that they were from the IRA and were there to take his car. Counsel said Mr Finucane told the gunmen they were there "to take him out". The court was told Mr Finucane was then shot several times, in the head, neck and trunk.
A Ford Sierra was later found abandoned at Woodvale in north Belfast. Mr Kerr said the Ulster Freedom Fighters later claimed responsibility. Counsel then detailed how, at a later date, Det Sgt Johnston (Jonty) Brown was alerted by officers in the Shankill area that a loyalist paramilitary figure was offering information.
Mr Brown met Ken Barrett, but there was no reference to the Finucane murder at that first encounter. A second meeting was held which was covertly recorded. Det Sgt Brown heard an account of the Finucane murder. The court heard that Barrett had said he shot dead Mr Finucane on the kitchen floor of his home. Barrett had told Det Sgt Brown: "You never tire of doing this, Jonty."
The court heard that the tape containing Barrett's admissions was now missing. It further heard details from the three Steven investigations into the murder and of the actions of the BBC Panorama team investigating the murder. Details of collaboration between the RUC, the British army and loyalist paramilitaries which facilitated the murder were also given.
Mr Kerr told of detailed evidence connected to Barrett's various weapons offences and also told of his previous convictions. Counsel for Barrett, Mr Arthur Harvey, asked for an adjournment until Friday. Sentencing is also expected on Friday.